Joint Statement: Laos After eight years, civil society worldwide demands the government establish and reveal Sombath’s fate and whereabouts 15 December 2020: On the eighth anniversary of the enforced disappearance of Lao civil society leader Sombath Somphone, we, the undersigned organizations, reiterate our calls on the government of Laos to reveal his fate and whereabouts, and to investigate all allegations of enforced disappearances in the country to bring those responsible to justice in fair trials. Sombath Somphone is still missing five years after he was forcibly disappeared in Vientiane, Laos.